Incinerator toilet

ABSTRACT

A compact, low cost, efficient gas fired incinerator toilet has a chassis within which is suspended an insulated firebox with which is associated an afterburner passage leading to a mixing chamber upstream relative to an exhaust fan and duct. A toilet seat is mounted on a cabinet top separably carried by the top of the chassis for ready access into the unit. Various operating and safety structures and controls are provided.

United States Patent 1191 Vollrath et al.

INCINERATOR TOILET Inventors: Walter J. Vollrath; Richard J.

Vollrath, both of Sheboygan; Paul R. Virnoche, Newton; Joseph Turk, Sheboygan; Paul E. Gerdes, Sheboygan; Roy W. Singer,

Sheboygan, all of Wis.

Assignee: Polar Ware Company, Sheboygan,

Wis.

Filed: Sept. 17, 1973 Appl. No.: 398,196

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 168,577, Aug. 3, 1971, Pat. No. 3,789,434.

US. Cl. 4/131, 110/9 E Int. Cl A47k 11/02 Field of Search ..4/l31, 118; 110/9 R, 9 E

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1914 Schellhammer 110/9 R 1 Jan. 7, 1975 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or FirmHil1, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A compact, low cost, efficient gas fired incinerator toilet has a chassis within which is suspended an insulated firebox with which is associated an afterburner passage leading to a mixing chamber upstream relative to an exhaust fan and duct. A toilet seat is mounted on a cabinet top separably carried by the top of the chassis for ready access into the unit. Various operating and safety structures and controls are provided.

17 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 7, 1975 4 Sheets-Sheet L Patented Jan. 7, 1975 4 Sheets-Sheet a Patented Jan. 7, 1975 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 7, 1975 4 Shoots-Shoat 4 INCINERATOR TOILET This is a division, of application Ser. No. 168,577 filed Aug. 3, 1971 and now US. Pat. No. 3,789,434.

This invention relates to a new and improved incinerator toilet, and is more particularly concerned with various innovations in a compact, efficient, low cost, gas fired unit for this purpose.

Toilet space is generally quite limited is such places as marine vehicles including yachts, cruisers, houseboats, and the like, and in recreational dwellings such as cabins, in mobile campers, housetrailers, etc. where an incinerator toilet is of special practicality. Further, economy is an important consideration in such environments. Noxious fumes must be avoided. Heat must not be allowed to escape except through an exhaust stack. Operation of the unit must be simple and foolproof. While incinerator toilets heretofore proposed may have satisfied one or another of the enumerated criteria, there has been need for a unit that will have all of the mentioned desirable features.

An improtant object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages, defects, inefficiencies, shortcomings and problems in prior structures and to attain the desired attributes suggested hereinabove and to provide important advantages and improvements in an incinerator toilet, as will hereinafter become particularly apparent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved incinerator toilet having unusually strong, efficient, economical rugged cabinet chassis construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved incinerator toilet having a novel cabinet structure enabling quick and easy access thereinto when necessary and which provides a neat, full enclosure in the operational mode.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an incinerator toilet a new and improved means for suspending the firebox.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide new and improved firedoor structure in an incinerator toilet assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improved air cooling and ventilating means in an incinerator toilet.

A yet further object of the ivention is to provide new and improved means for connecting a cabinet top to a chassis or frame in an incinerator toilet.

It is also an object of the invention to provide new and improved means for operating and controlling an incinerator toilet. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, and in which:

FIG; 1 is a perspective view of an incinerator toilet unit embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the unit;

FIG. 3 is a vertical schematic illustration showing general orientation of various elements and the manner in which combustion is effected in the unit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the unit showing the top separated from the chassis;

2 FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially along the line V-V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional detail view taken substantially along the line VI-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the chassis with the cabinet side and front panels removed;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the chassis with the side and front'cabinet panels removed;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially along line XX of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially along the line XI- XI of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is an electrical schematic of the operating and control circuitry for the unit.

An incinerator toilet embodying features of the invention comprises (FIGS. 14)- a housing including a chassis l5 and a top toilet seat platform and cover 17. In the top of the cover 17 is an opening 18 within which is suspended a removably supported funnel-like toilet bowl 19 having an upper flared supporting flange and a lower end discharge opening. Also supported by the cover 17 is a toilet seat 20 encompassing the opening 18 and having a closeable cover 21 thereove'r, with hinge means 22 at the rear of the seat and cover enabling joint or separate hinged moovement of the toilet seat and cover.

Receptively aligned under the bowl 19, within the chassis 15 is an incinerating chamber 23 within an upwardly opening box-like tirepot or chest 24 having a rear wall opening 25 into which projects the discharge end of a gas flame nozzle 26 which is spaced from but horizontally aligned with a perforated screen shelf 27 mounted about midway between the top and bottom of the chest 24 on and between the side walls thereof in such relation to the flame nozzle that solid materials M deposited on the shelf will be completely enveloped above and below by the generally horizontally projected flame from the nozzle 26. Liquids are collected directly in the bottom of the chamber 23 and evaporated by the heat of the flame.

From the chamber 23, the products of combustion and vapors exit through an opening 28 in the front wall of the chest 24 aligned generally with the grate 27 and of sufficiently restriced size to assure thorough involvement of a soft, that is relatively unpressurized flame and the heat therefrom within the chamber 23. Superheating of the effluvium after passing through the outlet 28 is effected preferably by the heat of the same combustion flame within a chamber 29 provided within a duct 30 extending horizontally on and along the outer side of the front wall of the chest 24 and then continuing angularly rearwardly on and along a side wall of the firebox chest (FIG. 3, 7, 9 and 10). At its rear end, the duct 30 extends into the lower portion of a mixing chamber 31 through an aperture 32 in the front wall of a vertically elongated, box-like housing 33 provided in its outer side wall generally aligned with the end of the duct 30 with an air entry opening 34 (FIGS. 9 and 11) so that cooling atmospheric air drawn in fairly large volume into the mixing chamber will mix with and cool the hot gasses to be drawn off by suction applied by a rotary fan in a housing 35 having an inlet 37 aligned with an exhaust opening 38 in the upper portion of the inner side wall of the housing 33.

According to the present invention the chassis is provided with a sturdy, economical frame comprising a minimum number of parts efficiently supporting all components of the unit which are not carried by the seat platform cover 17. To this end, a preferably onepiece sheet metal panel provides a horizontal bottom wall portion 39 (FIGS. 7, 9 and 10) and an integral upstanding rear wall panel portion 40. Reinforcement for all margins of the panel portions 39 and 40 is provided by means of right angular flanges comprising narrow upstanding longitudinally extending opposite side edge flanges 41 and an upstanding front end edge narrow flange 42. On the rear wall panel portion 40 similar angular forwardly extending side edge reinforcing flanges 43 are in mitered joint relation to the flanges 41 and have securing and reinforcing gusset plates 44 rigidly affixed across the joint whereby the panel portions 39 and 40 are rigidly maintained in the desired right angular orientation. Along its upper edge, the panel portion 40 has an inturned narrow angular reinforcing flange To complete the chassis frame, respective upright side frame bars 47 are mounted on each side at the front of the bottom or base panel portion 39, similar upright frame bars are mounted in rearward spaced relation to the frame bars 47 along the sides of the panel portion 39, and a top one-piece frame bar 49 is supported in horizontal parallel relation to the base plate portion 39 by the frame bars 47 and 48 and the rear wall panel portion 40. Each of the vertical frame bars 47 comprises a suitable gauge sheet metal member of substantial width having vertical edge outturned reinforcing flanges 50. Firmness against side sway is assured by having the lower end portions of the forwardmost frame bars 47 secured to upward gusset extensions 51 from the opposite end portions of the front end reinforcing flange 42. Connection of the bars 47 and 48 to the base structure, as well as attachment of such bars to the top frame bar 49 may be by means of welding. In a desirable structure, the top frame bar 49 is a onepiece generally U-shaped channel bar with the channel opening outwardly, and comprising elongated side portions and a front portion integrally joined, with the rear ends of the side portions secured as by welding to the upright rear wall panel portion 40 in the re-entrant angle between the respective flanges 43 and the flange 45, with respective bracing brackets 52 secured to the panel and frame end portions as by welding and maintaining a substantially rigid assembly.

In addition to its function as an important part of the chassis frame, thetop frame bar 49 serves as a supporting hanger for side and front wall panels providing an enclosed housing. To this end, allochiral side wall panels 53 (FIGS. 1 and 10) are provided each of which has along its upper edge an inwardly and downwardly turned generally hook-shaped head flange 54 which in the assembly is engaged upon and hangs the side wall panel from the side portions of the frame bar 49. To further secure the panels 53 in place, suitable drive screws 55 secure end and lower margins of the panels 53 to the flanges 41 and 43 which are provided with suitable screw holes 57 for this purpose. Similarly, a front wall panel 58 is provided with an inwardly and downwardly turned head hook flange 59 (FIG. 5) engaged upon the front section of the top frame bar 49 to hang the front housing panel in place, and suitablev drive screws 60 secure the lower portion of the front panel to the lower part of the frame as for example to the reinforcing gusset extensions 51 which are provided with suitable screw holes 61 for this purpose.

In addition, the top frame bar 49 provides a shoulder on which the seat platform and cabinet top closure 17 seats removably. For this purpose, the closure 17 comprises a relatively rigid rectangular hollow sheet metal structure having a top panel 62 and a depending skirt 63 provided with an inturned seating flange 64 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 5). In mounting the closure 17 on the chassis, a pair of retaining tongues or fingers 65 carried in spaced relation by the front portion of the seating flange 64 and projecting forwardly thereunder, are inserted into respective slot sockets 67 (FIGS. 5 and 9) in the front portion of the bar 49 and the closure seated on the chassis frame, whereafter the closure is locked in place by means of a pair of hook latch members 68 suitably mounted on the rear upper portion of the rear panel 40 (FIG. 9) and engaging latchingly with respective keepers 69 (FIG. 2) mounted on the rear portion of the skirt 63.

Mounting of the firebox or chest 24 within the chassis frame is effected by means of a pair of preferably identical suspension bars 70 (FIGS. 7, 9 and 10) comprising preferably inverted ,U-shaped cross section rigid bars which are secured to and across the tops of respective opposite end portions of a lateral integral flange 71 of the firechest 24 which may comprise a one-piece drawn stainless steel member. Means for securing the bars 70 may comprise respective screws 72. At their opposite ends, the bars 70 extend beyond the flange 71 as side spacers and are supported on respective brackets 73 which may be right angle flanges carried at suitable elevation by the frame bars 47 and 48. In a desirable construction, the angle flange bracket 73 may have one flange secured as by means of welding to the outer face of the respective frame bar while the remaining angle flange of the bracket extends horizontally through a suitable slot 74 in the associated frame bar so as to provide a cantilever ledge-like support on which the associated end of the bar 70 is supported and secured as by means of a screw 75. Through this arrangement, the firebox 24 is suspended in suitable spaced relation above the bottom panel 39 of the chassis and is supported in spaced relation relative to the front and rear as well as side structures within the chassis, leaving substantial air space thereabout for cooling air circulation not only downwardly through the top opening 18 in the closure 17, but also through air openings 77 in the top of a bottom end toe insert 78 provided by and in the front panel 58. By encasing the firebox chest 24 and the duct 30 in heavy heat insulation 79 minimum ambient heat may escape at maximum combustion heat into the air space within the cabinet so that only moderate cooling air circulation will maintain a quite comfortable, safe temperature environment not only at the external cabinet closure panels of the chassis, but also within the chassis spaces adapted to house various electrical and operating components of the unit.

Upward escape of heat from within the firebox chamber 23 during combustion is substantially prevented by a pair of cooperatively related, selectively openable and closeable firedoors 80 (FIGS. 3, 7, 9 and 10) which are desirably constructed from suitable heavy gauge sheet metal in inverted generally channel-shape with suitable fire-resistant heat insulation panels 80a held therein by toed-in edge flanges 80b. These firedoors are dimensioned to cover over the entire upward opening into the chamber 23 and to overlap, and in closing position to rest upon, the lateral flange 71 of the chest 24, with the contiguous edges of the firedoor panels abutting.

Operation of the firedoors 80 between open and closed positions is controlled by mechanism including the toilet seat cover 21. For this purpose, the seat 21 has rigidly connected therewith a pair of actuating earns 81 which project rearwardly from the axis of the hinge mechanism 22 and overlie respective followers 82 (FIG. 7) at the upper ends of normally upwardly spring biased plungers 83 each of which has a vertical rack portion 83a meshing with a respective gear 84 corotatively mounted on a shaft 85 rotatably journalled on and between a rear transverse bracket frame bar 87 secured as by means of screws 88 to the vertical frame bar 48 and the frame bar 49, and a front transverse bracket frame bar 89 secured as by means of screws 90 to and between the vertical frame bars 47. It may be noted that while the bracket frame bar 87 extends at its opposite ends above the top frame bar 49 and thus projects upwardly within the hollow top closure 17 to stabilize it against transverse displacement relative to the chassis, the front bracket frame bar has its upper edge depressed below the top seating surface of the frame bar 49 sufficiently to clear the retaining lug fingers 65 of the top closure 17 during mounting or removal of the top closure 17 by relative longitudinal movement.

Operating connection of the firedoor panels 80 and the operating shafts 85 is effected efficiently and economically by means of respective arm plates 91 each having a top outwardly projecting reinforcing and hanger flange 92 resting on the associated shaft 85, with means comprising screws 93 securing the arm to the shaft corotatively therewith. From the respective shafts, the arms 91 extend into association with the outer side edge portions of the respective firedoor panels 80, and are attached thereto pivotally through a hinge shaft 94 carried in fixed spaced parallel relation by the respective panel 80 on and between a pair of laterally projecting hinge journal members 95 rigidly attached to the door panel in spaced relation along the central portion of the outer margin of the panel. On its lower margin each of the arm plates 91 has an inturned reinforcing and hinge flange 97 which engages under the hinge shaft 94 and a generally Z-cross section retainer flange 98 overlies the shaft 94 and is secured to the plate 91 as by means of screws 99 and a nut strip 100. Thereby turning of the operating shafts 85 relatively oppositely in one direction swings the arms 91 outwardly and carries the firedoor panels 80 into opening relation to the fire chamber 23. Counter-rotation of the shafts 85 returns the firedoor panels to the closing relation to the chamber 23. Opening and closing movements of the firedoor panels 80 are facilitated by utilizing the firebox hanger bars 70 as guide tracks between which the opposite ends of the firedoor panels are disposed, and on which respective slides 101 carried by the end portions of the respective inner margins of the panels 80 are engaged to reduce frictional resistance to the opening and closing movements of the firedoors. Through this arrangement, the firedoors 80 are arranged to be closed when the toilet seat cover 21 is closed and to be opened when the cover 21 is opened and the earns 81 depress the plungers 83.

Mounting of the waste-supporting screen grate 27 within the chamber 23 is such as to enable ready removal and replacement through the top opening from the chamber when the firedoors 80 are open. For this purpose, the screen grate comprises a metal plate of suitable gauge perforated throughout at least a large area central depressed portion 102 thereof and carrying along opposite margins angular mounting strips 103 which are adapted to be engaged freely upon respective mounting bracket angles 104 fixedly secured to the re spective opposite side walls of the firebox 24 at a proper height preferably substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof.

By having at least the rear edge of the shelf grate plate 27 as thin as practicable, namely only of the thickness of the material of the plate itself, maximum combustion efficiency is attained from the flame projected theretoward from the flame nozzle 26 fueled by a suitable source such as natural gas from a service line or bottled propane, supplied through a nipple 105 (FIGS. 3 and 9) mounted on and communicating through the back wall panel with a conduit 107 controlled by a shut-off valve 108 and communicating through a control valve assembly 109 mounted in nozzle-supporting relation on the inside of the rear wall panel 40 (FIGS. 3 and 7) and feeding into an air mixing chamber 110 on the rear end, supported portion of the elongated nozzle 26. Thereby the flame generated by the nozzle 26 is of the soft type, that is it is result of only normal gas line or controlled relatively low bottled gas vaporizing pressure and air drawn in at the mixing chamber 110. As the flame issues from the nozzle 26 it is desirably spread by a flame spreader 111 to move in substantially equal volume onto and over the top of the grate 27 and under the grate for efficient combustion of the solid waste M and evaporation of liquid. As will be observed in FIG. 3, the adjacent, rear edge of the grate plate 27 is generally aligned with substantially the axis of the nozzle 26 and the space between the edge and the nozzle and the spreader 111 is sufficient to assure effective complete envelopment of the grate in the soft and expanding flame as it moves from the nozzle through the chamber 23 toward the exit 28 at the front of the firebox 24. Within the combustion chamber 23, intensity of combustion is promoted by in-draft of atmospheric air through the nozzle clearance opening 25 in the rear wall of the firebox 24, as promoted by action of the exhaust fan 35 acting through the opening 28 and the duct 29, by way of the chamber 33.

Providing a neat closure over a clearance aperture 112 for the hinge mechanism 22 and the operating earns 81 in the deck 62 is a hood 113 immediately rearwardly from the seat 20 and the cover 21. Immediately behind the hood 113 is a larger concealing hood 114 for the fan 35 and other mechanism that may desirably project above the deck 62 at the back of the unit, and cooperating with a mounting collar flange 115 about the discharge end of the exhaust fan hood and carrying a rearwardly projecting exhaust adapter 117 by which a connection is adapted to be made with a suitable exhaust duct or stack. Attachment of the flange 115 to the upper outer side of the rear wall panel 40 may be effected by means of screws 118 (FIG. 9). Suitable cooling air circulation inlet openings defined by louvers 119 may be provided in at least the sides of the hood 114.

Means for controlling operation of the gas nozzle 26 desirably comprise an electrical control system icluding a control switch 120 (FIG. 12) of a timer 121 (FIG. 6) mounted on and within the hood 114. Operation of the timer 121 is initiated by closing the switch 120 through a push button 122 freely accessible above the hood 114 to be pressed downwardly when it is desired to initiate combustion within the firebox chamber 23. For controlling the time interval or duration of a combustion cycle, means for setting the timer are provided including a manually operable control knob 123 preferably of tubular construction so that the push button 122 can be operated downwardly therethrough, and provided with a calibrated dial 124 adapted to be visually adjusted rotatably with respect to suitable indexing means such as a mark 125 on the top of the hood 114 forwardly relative to the dial (FIG. 2). To enable removal of the top closure 117 with respect to the chassis 15, a suitable separable connection is provided of the timer 121 with the electrical circuits of the unit encompassing apparatus within the chassis, and in this instance comprising a plug 127 electrically connected with the timer 121 and engageable with an electrical receptacle 128 electrically connected with the circuit components within the chassis. Access for effecting the separable connector connection or separation is through a suitable aperture 129 in the rear portion of the deck 62 normally concealed by the hood 114.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a schematic circuit diagram for controlling the operation of the incinerator toilet is illustrated. A pair of input terminals 130, 131 is provided for connection to a suitable electrical supply, for example, 125' VAC 60 Hz. A protective fuse 132 is connected between the remainder of the circuit and in series with the input terminal 131. Generally connected across the input terminals are the timer 121, a relay having a winding 139, the blower 35 and a thermostat 143 which closes at l50-l 90F and which may be mounted as illustrated in FIG. 7.

The relay winding 139 has a plurality of relay contacts 141-142 linked thereto as indicated by the broken line 140.

As a safety feature, the flredoors 80 have associated therewith switches for controlling the operation of the burner. Each of these switches is indicated by the linkages 133, 136 associated with the right-hand and left hand doors, respectively. The right-hand door switch 133 has a pair of normally closed contacts 134 and a pair of normally open contacts 135, while the left-hand door switch 136 has a pair of normally open contacts 137 and a pair of normally closed contacts 138. The function of these switches will be appreciated from the operational description provided below.

FIG. 12 further illustrates a plurality of switches connected in series between the terminal 131 and the ignition system portion of the burner control. For example, a thermostat 144 is provided as a high limit switch and operates to open at approximately 1260F. This switch is mounted inside the insulation and against the duct 30 as illustrated in FIG. 9. A sail switch 145 is mounted on top of the housing 33 and is connected in series with the thermostat 144, and includes a vane 145a disposed to depend within the chamber 31 adjacent to the exhaust opening 38 in the airstream as illustrated in FIG. 11 so as to close only when the blower is operating, in order to prevent ignition without a proper draft. A safety thermostat switch 146 is mounted rearwardly of the firebox opening 25 adjacently above the nozzle 26 and is operable to open at approximately 200F in case of blowback in order to prevent damage to components exterior of the firebox in the eventof a reverse draft situation. The blowback thermostat 146 may be seen mounted in FIG. 3.

Another thermostat switch 147 is mounted on the duct 30 adjacent the thermostat 144 (FIG. 9) and is operable to open at 1060F as a means of controlling a modulating winding 148 of a modulating valve of the gas valve system. It should be noted here that the par ticular burner and gas valve assembly illustrated in FIG. 12 is made available by the McQuay Norris Division of Baton Yale & Towne under the model number NCBOS-lOSl-l. Of course, other types of valve and burner assemblies may be utilized in practicing the present invention, such as a hydraulically modulated valve wherein the modulating portion is operated by means of a diaphragm in response to the temperature sensed thereby. The thermostat 147 may be set to reclose at some desired level below 1060F, for example, at 200 300F.

An ignition safety switch 149 completes the connection of the ignition system across the terminals 130, 131. The switch 149 includes a heating element 150, a temperature responsive movable contact 151 and a stationary contact 152 which is connected in series with the modulation winding 148 and the thermostat 147. Connected generally in parallel with the thermostat 147 and the modulating winding 148 is a diode 154, a main valve winding 15S and an SCR 156. The SCR 156 has a gate electrode which is connected by way of diode 158, a resistor 157 and a thermostat 153 to the normally closed blowback thermostat in series with the terminal 131. The circuit just traced controls energization of the main supply valve and the thermostat 153 controls termination of ignition upon the detection of a flame. The thermostat 153 is a flame prover which is mounted on the nozzle as illustrated in FIG. 3 to detect the presence of a flame. Upon detection of a flame, the termostat 153 opens.

An ignition circuit is connected generally in parallel with the gas supply solenoids 148, through the flame prover thermostat 153. This ignition circuit comprises a diode 159, a resistor 160 and a capacitor 161 all connected in series. A resistor 162 and a capacitor 163 are connected in series and the series combination is connected in parallel with the capacitor 161. A primary winding 165 of a pulse transformer 164 is connected in series with an SCR 167, this series combination also being connected in parallel with the capacitor 161. The SCR 167 includes a gate electrode which is connected by way of a neon tube 168 to the junction between the resistor 162 and the capacitor 163. The pulse transformer 164 includes a secondary winding 166 which is connected in series with spark ignition electrodes 169. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the spark ignition electrodes 169 were realized by a standard M8 Champion sparkplug modified for a 360 arc by removal of the ground electrode thereof.

It should be noted that the ignition safety switch 149 is provided as a part of the aformentioned gas valve and operates upon excessive heating to isolate the terminal 130 from the gas supply valve windings 148, 155.

With the seat down, the door switch contacts 135, 137 are open and the door switch contacts 134, 136 are closed. The blower 35 is therefore deenergized and the sail switch 145 is open to prevent ignition.

With seat cover 21 raised, the levers 133a and 136a operate the switches 133 and 136 to close the contacts 135, 137 and open the contacts 134, 138. The closure of the contacts 135, 137 provides an energizing circuit for the blower 35 which operates and causes deflection of the vane 145a and closure of the sail switch 145. As long as the seat cover is raised, the blower 35 will continue to run and the remainder of the circuit remains deenergized.

The timer is then set to the desired ignition interval, generally about 17 minutes, by the calibrated dial 124 and the pushbutton 122 is depressed to reset the timer and close the contacts 120. The pushbutton 122 is, by the way, shown twice in FIG. 12, once schematically as a springloaded contact closing device and once pictorially along with the associated calibrated dial 124. Closure of the contacts 120 does not, however, effect energization of the timer in that the contacts 134 are open.

When the seat cover 21 is lowered, the contacts 134, 136 close and an energizing path provided by way of the contacts 134 for energization of the timer motor 121a and the relay winding 139. The timer begins to operate and the relay operates to close its contacts 141, 142. The contacts 141 provide a bypass circuit for the now open contacts 135, 137 in order to maintain the blower 35 energized. The contacts 142 in closing extend the powering circuit through the serially connected switches 144, 145, 146 to the gas valve and ignition circuits.

The main gas valve, the modulating gas valve and the ignition circuit are energized simultaneously. The main gas valve has its winding 155 energized over the path including the input terminal 131, the fuse 132, the relay and switch contacts 138, 142, 144-146, the diode 154, the winding 155, the SCR 156, the contacts 152, 151 of the ignition safety switch 149, the right-hand door switch contacts 134 and the input terminal 130. The gate ofthe SCR 156 is energized over a path that is substantially in parallel with the diode 154 and 155 including the flame prover thermostat 153, the resistor 157 and the diode 158. The modulating winding 148 is also in a path which is connected in parallel to the main valve winding 155 including the modulating thermostat 147. The main gas valve and the molulating gas valve are therefore opened to permit gas flow to the burner.

The ignition circuit is also connected in parallel with the main gas valve winding 155. For ignition, the capacitor 161 charges to approximately the peak voltage of the AC line connected to the terminals 130, 131 over the diode 159 and the limiting resistor 160. The capacitor 163 charges in response to the voltage developed across the capacitor 161 by way of the timing resistor 162. When the voltage across the capacitor 163 reaches the ignition voltage of the neon lamp 168, the neon lamp fires into the gate of the SCR 167 which establishes a circuit to permit the discharge of the capacitor 161 through the primary winding 165 of the pulse transformer 164. This discharge of the capacitor 161 develops a high voltage on the secondary winding 166 of the transformer 164 which arcs across the sparkplug points 169 to furnish ignition of the gas. Although the sparkplug points 169 are only schematically illustrated in FIG. 12 of the drawings, it is clearly evident that the sparkplug is mounted adjacent the tip of the nozzle 26. The ignition circuit discussed above is only one of several which may be employed to furnish ignition of the gas. For example, the elements 159-169 may be replaced by a solenoid ignitor wherein a winding and spark electrodes are connected in series and the series combination connected between the points a, b.

Upon ignition, the flame prover thermostat 153 opens to disconnect the ignition circuit and the gating circuit for the main gas valve. The main gas valve, however, remains energized until its electrical supply is interrupted by virtue of the operating characteristic of the SCR 156.

During incineration, the modulating valve winding 148 will be deenergized and reengerized by the operation of the thermostat 147 which may open at, for example, 1060F and reclose at 250F.

Upon completion of the time period set on the calibrated dial 124, the timer contacts will be opened to deenergize the timer motor 121a and the relay winding 139. The relay contacts 142 open to deenergize the gas valve windings 148, to end the firing cycle. The relay contacts 141 open; however, the thermostat 143 has closed to bridge the contacts 141 and maintain the fan 35 energize. The fan will continue to run until the thermostat 143 opens at, for example, F at which time the fan will be deenergized and the entire cycle will be terminated.

If at any time the cycle is interrupted by raising the seatcover 21, the burner will be deenergized by the opening of the switch contacts 134; however, the blower 35 will continue to run over the path provided by the thermostat 143. When the seatcover is again lowered, the cycle will continue and the timer will time out the remainder of its present time to end the cycle.

As previously mentioned, the timer has a plug 127 which engages a socket or receptacle 128. This has been schematically illustrated in FIG. 12 through the provision of the plug contacts 127a, 127b and 1270 which engage the socket contacts 128a, 128b, 1280.

Although we have disclosed our invention by reference to a specific illlustrative embodiment, many changes and modifications thereof may become readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, and it is to be understood that we intend to include within the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an incinerator toilet unit including a chassis housing an upwardly opening combustion chamber and apparatus for effecting combustion therein and for disposing of products of combustion, and a top closure removably seated on said chassis and carrying a toilet seat over said chamber, the improvement comprising:

the chassis frame including a base plate having an upward rear wall panel, with upstanding flanges along side edges of the base plate and forwardly extending flanges along the sides and top of said back panel;

a horizontally lying generally U-shaped top frame bar having rear ends secured to said rear wall panel within the juncture corners of said back wall panel flanges;

spaced upright frame bars secured to said base plate within said flanges thereof and supporting said top frame bar; and

side and front cabinet closure panels suspended from said top frame bar and enclosing the chassis frame in cooperation with said back wall panel.

2. In a unit according to claim 1, said front and side wall panels having hook-shaped upper end portions engaged upon said top frame bar.

3. In a unit according to claim 1, said top frame bar projecting forwardly relative to the front of said base plate, said front wall panel extending vertically from said front end of the top bar and having a lower inset portion connected to the front end of the base plate and providing a toe space with an overlying insetting portion of the front panel thereover, said insetting portion having air circulation holes therethrough for entry of cooling air to the interior of the chassis, and means carried by the chassis for effecting circulation of air inwardly through said holes and through said interior.

4. In a unit according to claim 2, said base plate having upstanding flange structure along its front end, and means securing the lower portion of said front panel to said front end flange.

5. In a unit according to claim 1, including a timer carried by said top closure and including means for operating and controlling the timer; and

a separable connector for connecting said timer to electrical circuitry in said chassis.

6. In a unit according to claim 5, said top closure having a hood on a rear portion thereof, said timer being mounted within said hood, said means for operating and controlling the timer comprising a knob accessible on top of said hood and a calibrated dial registrable with an index on said hood, and a controlling button accessible and operable through said knob.

7. In an incinerator toilet including a cabinet housing a firebox having a chamber opening upwardly, and a top closure on the cabinet provided with an opening over the firebox and supporting a toilet seat in association with the opening:

means for directing flame horizontally into the firebox chamber intermediate the top and bottom thereof;

a grate having an edge aligned in spaced relation with the nozzle to receive flame substantially uniformly above and below the grate; said grate comprising a perforated shelf plate having a generally downwardly dished central portion to maintain disposited material generally centered on said grate; and

brackets on the inner side walls of said firebox within the chamber and supporting said grate removably.

8. In an incinerator toilet according to claim 7, said plate having said frame bars, and said frame bars engaged removably with said brackets.

9. An incinerator toilet including a chassis having a firebox therein providing an upwardly opening chamber, and a top closure providing an opening over said firebox and a toilet seat and seat cover hinged relative to one another and to said top closure, and comprising:

spaced parallel horizontal hanger bars carrying said firebox and supported by said chassis;

a pair of firebox panels movably guided between said bars over said firebox;

means operable by said toilet seat cover for moving said firedoor panels between a closed position over said firebox when the toilet seat cover is closed and an open position at respectively opposite sides of the firebox when the seat cover is in open position; and

friction-reducing slide means carried by said cover panels and riding on said bars which serve as rails for the firedoor panels to reduce frictional resistance to the opening and closing movements of said firedoor panels.

10. An incinerator toilet according to claim 9, said firedoor panels comprising inverted generally channelshaped metal members and fire-resistant heat insulation carried within the channels of said members.

11. An incinerator toilet according to claim 9, said means for operating said doors comprising respective shafts located above said doors and at respectively opposite sides within said chassis, respective arms secured fixedly to said shafts and depending therefrom, respective hinge shafts carried by the outer side portions of said firedoor panels, and means hingedly connecting said arms to said hinge shafts.

12. An incinerator toilet including a housing having a firebox therein, means providing combustion flame in said firebox, and a duct extending from the front of said firebox and rearwardly therealong for products of combustion from the firebox, and comprising:

a vertically extending mixing chamber;

said duct opening into a lower portion of a front wall of said chamber;

said chamber having an air entry opening thereinto in one side wall generally aligned with the adjacent end of said duct so that cooling atmospheric air can be drawn in fairly large volume into said mixing chamber to mix with and cool hot gasses entering from said duct;

an exhaust opening in the upper portion of the opposite side wall of said chamber; and

means effecting a draft from said chamber through said exhaust opening.

13. An incinerator toilet according to claim 12, including an electrical control circuit for said flameproviding means, and a sail switch mounted on said chamber and provided with an air pressure-responsive member inside said chamber adjacent to said exhaust opening and movable toward said opening under suction air pressure for operating said switch.

14. An incinerator toilet according to claim 13, wherein said control circuit comprises an adjustable timing means including contacts for controlling the incineration operation of said toilet, said contacts connectible to an electrical supply and connected in series with said sail switch and said flame-providing means for providing power to said flame-providing means for a selected preset time interval.

15. An incinerator toilet according to claim 14, wherein said housing includes door means for providing access to said firebox and said control circuit further comprises switch means connected between the electrical supply and the flame-providing means, said switch means operated by said door means to permit operation of said flame-providing means only when said door means closes said housing.

16. An incinerator toilet according to claim 15, wherein said switch means includes switch contacts connected between said draft effecting means and an electrical supply for causing operation of said draft effecting means when said door means is open, and said timer includes contacts in parallel with said switch contacts for causing operation of said draft effecting means when said door means closes said housing.

perature and operable to maintain said draft effecting 17. An incinerator toilet according to claim 16, commeans operating after termination of the preset time prising a thermostat switch also connected in parallel interval until the temperature sensed thereby is below with said switch contacts for sensing the exhaust tema predetermined level. 

1. In an incinerator toilet unit including a chassis housing an upwardly opening combustion chamber and apparatus for effecting combustion therein and for disposing of products of combustion, and a top closure removably seated on said chassis and carrying a toilet seat over said chamber, the improvement comprising: the chassis frame including a base plate having an upward rear wall panel, with upstanding flanges along side edges of the base plate and forwardly extending flanges along the sides and top of said back panel; a horizontally lying generally U-shaped top frame bar having rear ends secured to said rear wall panel within the juncture corners of said back wall panel flanges; spaced upright frame bars secUred to said base plate within said flanges thereof and supporting said top frame bar; and side and front cabinet closure panels suspended from said top frame bar and enclosing the chassis frame in cooperation with said back wall panel.
 2. In a unit according to claim 1, said front and side wall panels having hook-shaped upper end portions engaged upon said top frame bar.
 3. In a unit according to claim 1, said top frame bar projecting forwardly relative to the front of said base plate, said front wall panel extending vertically from said front end of the top bar and having a lower inset portion connected to the front end of the base plate and providing a toe space with an overlying insetting portion of the front panel thereover, said insetting portion having air circulation holes therethrough for entry of cooling air to the interior of the chassis, and means carried by the chassis for effecting circulation of air inwardly through said holes and through said interior.
 4. In a unit according to claim 2, said base plate having upstanding flange structure along its front end, and means securing the lower portion of said front panel to said front end flange.
 5. In a unit according to claim 1, including a timer carried by said top closure and including means for operating and controlling the timer; and a separable connector for connecting said timer to electrical circuitry in said chassis.
 6. In a unit according to claim 5, said top closure having a hood on a rear portion thereof, said timer being mounted within said hood, said means for operating and controlling the timer comprising a knob accessible on top of said hood and a calibrated dial registrable with an index on said hood, and a controlling button accessible and operable through said knob.
 7. In an incinerator toilet including a cabinet housing a firebox having a chamber opening upwardly, and a top closure on the cabinet provided with an opening over the firebox and supporting a toilet seat in association with the opening: means for directing flame horizontally into the firebox chamber intermediate the top and bottom thereof; a grate having an edge aligned in spaced relation with the nozzle to receive flame substantially uniformly above and below the grate; said grate comprising a perforated shelf plate having a generally downwardly dished central portion to maintain disposited material generally centered on said grate; and brackets on the inner side walls of said firebox within the chamber and supporting said grate removably.
 8. In an incinerator toilet according to claim 7, said plate having said frame bars, and said frame bars engaged removably with said brackets.
 9. An incinerator toilet including a chassis having a firebox therein providing an upwardly opening chamber, and a top closure providing an opening over said firebox and a toilet seat and seat cover hinged relative to one another and to said top closure, and comprising: spaced parallel horizontal hanger bars carrying said firebox and supported by said chassis; a pair of firebox panels movably guided between said bars over said firebox; means operable by said toilet seat cover for moving said firedoor panels between a closed position over said firebox when the toilet seat cover is closed and an open position at respectively opposite sides of the firebox when the seat cover is in open position; and friction-reducing slide means carried by said cover panels and riding on said bars which serve as rails for the firedoor panels to reduce frictional resistance to the opening and closing movements of said firedoor panels.
 10. An incinerator toilet according to claim 9, said firedoor panels comprising inverted generally channel-shaped metal members and fire-resistant heat insulation carried within the channels of said members.
 11. An incinerator toilet according to claim 9, said means for operating said doors comprising respective shafts located above said doors and aT respectively opposite sides within said chassis, respective arms secured fixedly to said shafts and depending therefrom, respective hinge shafts carried by the outer side portions of said firedoor panels, and means hingedly connecting said arms to said hinge shafts.
 12. An incinerator toilet including a housing having a firebox therein, means providing combustion flame in said firebox, and a duct extending from the front of said firebox and rearwardly therealong for products of combustion from the firebox, and comprising: a vertically extending mixing chamber; said duct opening into a lower portion of a front wall of said chamber; said chamber having an air entry opening thereinto in one side wall generally aligned with the adjacent end of said duct so that cooling atmospheric air can be drawn in fairly large volume into said mixing chamber to mix with and cool hot gasses entering from said duct; an exhaust opening in the upper portion of the opposite side wall of said chamber; and means effecting a draft from said chamber through said exhaust opening.
 13. An incinerator toilet according to claim 12, including an electrical control circuit for said flame-providing means, and a sail switch mounted on said chamber and provided with an air pressure-responsive member inside said chamber adjacent to said exhaust opening and movable toward said opening under suction air pressure for operating said switch.
 14. An incinerator toilet according to claim 13, wherein said control circuit comprises an adjustable timing means including contacts for controlling the incineration operation of said toilet, said contacts connectible to an electrical supply and connected in series with said sail switch and said flame-providing means for providing power to said flame-providing means for a selected preset time interval.
 15. An incinerator toilet according to claim 14, wherein said housing includes door means for providing access to said firebox and said control circuit further comprises switch means connected between the electrical supply and the flame-providing means, said switch means operated by said door means to permit operation of said flame-providing means only when said door means closes said housing.
 16. An incinerator toilet according to claim 15, wherein said switch means includes switch contacts connected between said draft effecting means and an electrical supply for causing operation of said draft effecting means when said door means is open, and said timer includes contacts in parallel with said switch contacts for causing operation of said draft effecting means when said door means closes said housing.
 17. An incinerator toilet according to claim 16, comprising a thermostat switch also connected in parallel with said switch contacts for sensing the exhaust temperature and operable to maintain said draft effecting means operating after termination of the preset time interval until the temperature sensed thereby is below a predetermined level. 